Autism Stories

"We have to stop looking at vocabulary as the main source of communication. If you talk with  a person with autism you need to learn their communication. There is writing, sign language, there are other ways to speak to you.  If someone is making a loud noise they are trying to tell you what is going on," says Marcus Boyd. Marcus joins us to talk about his career as a rapper, producer, a...

"The medical model is really set up for non-disabled people to access healthcare. One of the biggest things is communication. It's sort of assumed that speaking words and hearing them without delay is preferred by everyone. It's just not true. Asking the person how they best process information and asking their preferred method of  communication is so often missed. Its good to know this upfro...

"When you learn you are autistic or accept you are autistic you learn you have been correct your whole life. You have ways you need to start doing things and they need to be individualized. Learn how to be you and you can't be you if your not practicing autism or living an autistic life engaging in your special interests, observing only material that is logical and beneficial to you in some way,"...

"In 2016 with the AMA I was named the chapters volunteer of the year for the graphic design work I did for them.  Autistic people don't typically get acknowledged much. So getting acknowledged in that way was mind blowing", says Ronald Kearns. Ronald joins us to talk about his  career as a graphic designer and his advice on how autistic people can become more successful in this field.&nb...

"It can look really different. I know for some people video game music or listening to music can help. Just having some sort of fidget you can use when you are at the stop sign. My philosophy is that as long as it doesn't distract you from driving, looking at the front, side, or rear mirrors everything else is fair game", says Andrew Arboe. Andrew joins us to give his  tips on helping autisti...

"That is the entire goal of what I do and what I want my studio to be is this place for people to come as they are as their neurodiverse selves and just grow to a better version of themselves," says Hannah Petry. Hannah joins us to talk about her music studio and the positive benefits music brings to autistic people.  To learn more about Hannah and Diatonic music visit https://www.diatonicmus...

"As far as sensory issues warmth is your best friend on your period. Thats why people recommend warm pants, putting on socks, a bunch of clothes, wrapping up in a blanket and thats been helpful to me to cut down on the sensory experiences as i'm going through the period itself," says Amy Li Baksh. Amy joins this episode of Autism Stories to discuss starting a project to help autistics with their &...

"Actively recruiting disabled attorneys,  those different ways of problem solving and approaching situations can be really helpful in cases and litigation. Having those different perspectives can be so vital to your business," says AJ Link. AJ joins us to talk about neurodiverse attorneys and the value they bring to any law firm.  To learn more about AJ and the National Disabled Law Stud...

"I do a self check in around 10am, have you ate yet? If I haven't ate by 10am and I haven't turned the tv on and haven't really done much that is when I know my spoon level is low.  I check back in by 1 and did I take my medicine today? You didn't take your medicine, oh yeah I'm not doing well," says Janelle Harding. Nicodemus and Janelle join this episode of Autism Stories to talk about thei...

"Its liberating to explore where the tangents will talk you. In a way being autistic in some ways is going down a rabbit hole. You go inward, you go in your head and see where it takes you. The Sitar is the vehicle by which I get to those places in some ways. Being able to let me take it where it will instead of trying to play Beethovens 5th Symphony on it is freshing to just go with the flow," sa...

"Nobody likes surprises. When people say hey you got a second? I almost want to say no. However, if someone says I want to run this really interesting thing by you I may need your expertise to discuss. Now I can process, I can take all the social anxiety out. I can assess what I want to say and start planning and framing the index of possibilities," says Hunter Hansen. Hunter joins this episode of...

"Practice the pause. I know for those of us that are autistic we feel this social pressure in many different scenarios to answer people in a certain set amount of imaginary time before people make that face, are you listening? I don't like that face because I was listening and was thinking and now your face distracted me from thinking.  What we need to do as autistics we deserve that right to...

" I can be influenced very easily, i'm constantly questions myself. Despite all that, no matter how different from the norm, my gut will just tell me what to follow. When I stick to my gut I find that I make the right decision. I feel like I've always had an intuitive right or wrong, a moral compass. No matter what the influence is I won't compromise that," says Tracey Cohen. Tracey joins us to ta...

"It hammers something home in representation that is really not true, that we only date autistic people. I don't love to talk about my dating life . When I tell people I'm autistic they ask do you only date autistic people? Of course the answer is no, good people are good people", says Haley Moss. Haley returns to Autism Stories to discuss what she liked and what the  documentary on Netflix "...

"I found a fun world, the glitz and glam,  I kind of escaped the difficulties I was going through because I hadn't been diagnosed yet. There were a lot of challenges I didn't know how to cope with, I latched on and never looked back.", says Michael Andolsek. Michael joins this episode of Autism Stories to talk about how his special interest of fashion has helped him and could help  other...

" How to talk to kids like me who were quiet, abnormally quiet,  we are over compliant. You wouldn't get the average hard working managing the household black  parent who has this good kid to focus on them as an issue. Especially with the distrust of mental health and it's history. You now, it's like why are you going after my good kid?", says Catina Burkett. Catina  joins us on thi...

"We as a community are more suited to be entrepreneurs. We have the assumptions all wrong with neurodiversity and hiring, we have all these employment initiatives and assuming they want jobs in tech, what if they don't?", says Andrew Komarow. Andrew joins us on this episode of Autism Stories to discuss why self employment may be a great idea for some autistics as well as discussing financial plann...

"Through all those years of misdiagnosis and not really having the words to describe what is going on, bodybuilding emerged as the first thing that helped", says Crystal Rapoza. Crystal joins us on this episode of Autism Stories to discuss how bodybuilding helped her and how to could other autistic people. To be updated on the latest Autism Stories episode subscribe on your favorite podcast listen...

"I showed that a black man who has autism, who has a different perspective can be a voice to inspire", says Phillip McGruder about his college experience as a black autistic man at the University of Kansas. Phillip joins this episode of Autism Stories to discuss intersectionality as it relates to the college experience for autistic people.  To be updated on the latest Autism Stories episode s...

"There are so many professionals that listen simply to reply, but listening to understand requires an open mind, cultural understanding and presumed competence," says Lisa Morgan. Lisa joins this talks with us on this episode of Autism Stories to talk about identifying suicide risk factors in autistic people and  crisis supports that can truly benefit them.  To purchase Lisa Morgan's upc...

"None of my identities exist in a vacuum,. I'm always going to be non-binary, autistic, have vater it's all going to co-exist," says Miriam Sachs. Miriam joins this episode of Autism Stories to talk about intersectionality and the importance of discussing and embracing all aspects of our identities especially ones that are marginalized.   Autism Stories connects you with amazing people w...

“When you put time into something and people are seeing you being vulnerable it creates this intimacy and even though we have never met before its really amazing how people start to trust each other,” says Super Spectrum Girl of the importance of her illustrations on social media for the autistic community. Super Spectrum Girl joins us for this episode of Autism Stories to discuss the impact of so...

“I always feel more safe with rules as this is the way to do it,” says professional dancer  Becki Parker in talking  of the many ways dance plays into her strengths as an autistic person . Becki joins us to talk about her dance career and how  dance can be helpful to so many other autistic people.  Autism Stories connects you with amazing people who are helping  Autistic a...

"“It’s really about thinking outside of the box and starting to think more about who is using your site and if they are going to get the best experience out of it”, says Kelly Bron Johnson when thinking about website accessibility.  Kelly returns to Autism Stories to talk with us about how to determine how accessible your website is and what changes you can make to make it much more usable fo...

“When you go into a museum there are things like objects that make learning very concrete. If you can see it,feel it,and touch it you can start to understand it. So I think thats part of ways that Autistic people might learn better in museums,” says Sam Theriault. Sam joins us to talk about how museums can be beneficial  and what we need to do to make them more accessible to Autistic people.&...